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JeffD4
Member Since: 25 Dec 2009
Location: Perth, Western Australia
Posts: 77
  
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| Towing Campers trailers with D3/D4 |
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Does anyone have experience with towing camper trailers in offroad conditions with a D3/D4 with airsuspension? Am contemplating purchasing one for fairly extended offroad use but am a bit concerned about the high towball weights of around 100 to 160 kilos, depending on what is loaded in the gullwing forward of the trailer wheels and the ability of the airsuspension to cope. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.  Land Rover Series IIA 1967
Discovery 300 Tdi 1998 (white, ARB bullbar, suspension lift, roof rack, Lightforce spots etc)
Discovery 4 3.0 Litre White, e-diff
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 2nd Aug 2010 11:44 am |
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Ent
Member Since: 12 Oct 2007
Location: In the cack
Posts: 6488
 
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Hello Jeff
I've done a fair bit of towing on and off-road with my modified sankey trailer and I can definitely recommend a D3/4 with airsuspension is the way to go.
Lee Club Exped trailer
Club Timed Climate
Club Flappy paddle steering wheel
Club 300bhp
Club Prospeed test pilot/lab rat
Club National Luna Stella conditioner
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| 2nd Aug 2010 3:53 pm |
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catweasel
Member Since: 05 May 2006
Location: Bundaleer
Posts: 4805
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official on road ball weight is up to 350kg. offroad it is reduced but havent seen any figures for the ball weight. 160 kg is no problem for the oem hitch and air suspension (from personal experience)
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| 2nd Aug 2010 4:21 pm |
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WayneD
Member Since: 11 Sep 2007
Location: Sydney Darwin ,Singapore, USA, UK and now country NSW
Posts: 531
 
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I have towed both a Camp-O-Matic and Cub off road camper with the D3 TDV6 and I have a Mitchell Bros tow hitch. Did not know either were behind the vehicle, both tracked really well and while I did not have them in extreme 4wd situations I know a couple of the boys have towed an Ultimate and a Travelander (both big campertrailers) out of Bendethera via the Dampier Fire Trail. So you will have no worries at all Take the road less traveled. Dual battery system.ORS drawers,LR cargo Barrier.ARB Bull bar,side protection bars,Mickey Thompson ATR's 17" rims, Rear wheel carrier, radiator guard TPMS Mitchell Bros Tow Hitch LR RAI Steel Rims , GME UHF, Off Road GPS, Llams (yet to be fitted)
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| 3rd Aug 2010 4:50 am |
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Big Kev
Member Since: 13 Nov 2006
Location: SYDNEY
Posts: 63
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Hi , I'm one of the boys who towed a camper out of Bendethra, which was quite steep, didn;t have any trouble the tractin contol took care of most of the work .Wheel placement was all you had to worry about.I have just returned from an extended trip to Broome via The flinders ,Oonadatta Mt Dare Tanami track not a problem . I have a mitchell bros hitch which does agreat job, a tregg hitch or similar is also valuable to assist in articulation.
Kev
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| 3rd Aug 2010 5:54 am |
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JeffD4
Member Since: 25 Dec 2009
Location: Perth, Western Australia
Posts: 77
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Many thanks for the responses - this is reassuring. I'm thinking of a Kimberley Camper Limited Edition which has a fair bit of downball weight - between 100 and 150 kgs and about 1200 to 1500 gross weight. These campers have a reputation for being heavier than others and I was concerned that I would be overloading the airsuspension system particularly on corrugations where the suspension is making rapid movements to correct for the effect of the trailer. I guess on the other hand, the KK has an excellent suspension system and according to the manufacturer they can match the wheel track to suit the tow vehicle (including D3/4) - good in sand especially. Land Rover Series IIA 1967
Discovery 300 Tdi 1998 (white, ARB bullbar, suspension lift, roof rack, Lightforce spots etc)
Discovery 4 3.0 Litre White, e-diff
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| 3rd Aug 2010 6:33 am |
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Dorko
Member Since: 07 Apr 2010
Location: Perth
Posts: 60
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I hired a trailer from Complete Campsite. The Disco pulled it like a train and was easy to overtake upto 150kms/hr.
The only thing i had dramas with was the trailer had LED lights. So the Disco didnt no a trailer was connected and offroad the warning lights came on. To fix this problem get a shunt box and then the car will recognise the trailer and adjust the suspension accordingly.
PS: dont hire from complete campsite... shocking service!
Dorko Dorko
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| 3rd Aug 2010 8:17 am |
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BUDD05
Member Since: 12 Feb 2010
Location: Perth, Australia
Posts: 19
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I have had no trouble towing an 06 Jayco Flamingo Outback approx 1500 to 1800kg fully loaded on a Mitchell Bros hitch, big change from my Prado, love the power.  2006 D3 HSE
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| 3rd Aug 2010 6:58 pm |
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Bushwanderer
Member Since: 27 Nov 2007
Location: Northern Rivers, NSW, Australia
Posts: 2050
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jdea wrote:Jeff,
SNIP I would love to have a mitchell brothers hitch. SNIP
JD
So what's stopping you? The Bearded Dragon
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| 4th Aug 2010 1:58 am |
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jdea
Member Since: 02 Mar 2008
Location: Tannum Sands QLD
Posts: 176
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Bushwanderer wrote:
So what's stopping you?
A wife, 3 teen age children, Front bushes, lower control arms, an alternator, and a 120k service….
I've never been so broke in my life.... The perfect storm: A Land rover and teenage children!
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| 4th Aug 2010 2:49 am |
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GraemeS
Member Since: 17 Mar 2008
Location: NSW
Posts: 706
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JeffD4 wrote:I was concerned that I would be overloading the airsuspension system particularly on corrugations where the suspension is making rapid movements to correct for the effect of the trailer.
If you are referring to the suspension system instigating rapid height adjustments then don't worry, it doesn't! The system averages the heights over at least 5 seconds to ensure that height adjustments are actually required.
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| 4th Aug 2010 10:46 am |
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Martin Krutli
Member Since: 17 Apr 2007
Location: Adelaide
Posts: 229
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Hi Jeff,
We've towed our Campomatic thru some fairly rugged conditions - Finke River Gorge down thru Boggy Hole, some back tracks thru the Flinders Ranges, Cape Arid/Israelite Bay in WA and many others and its been an absolute dream. I had a Pajeero NM before the Disco3 and there is no comparison.
The Mitchell Bros hitch makes quite a difference (although that being said, I put one on from new) and the camper sits completely level at on-road height, with a slight 'bum down' orientation at off-road height. The only possible issue is that I believe the suspension won't go into extended mode with a trailer on behind - cause me to hit the bottom once or twice thru the steeper river crossing exits thru the Finke Gorge - but no real issue and that's not relateed to ball/hith weght. Ditto someone else's comment, you absolutely must have an off-road coupling if you are planning anything requiring a fair bit of articulation.
Cheers,
Martin MY08 TDV6 SE. White/Alpaca. BFG265/65/18 At's
Autologic, Trackside Dual Battery syst., Remote GME UHF, 4X4 Intelligence rear wheel carrier, Boab removable rear drawer system w National Luna fridge, Mitchell Bros hitch.
Rasta Plate. 110L LRA long-range fuel tank.
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| 4th Aug 2010 11:36 am |
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caverD3
Member Since: 02 Jul 2006
Location: Oberon, NSW
Posts: 6922
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If you disconnect the electrics it will not know you have a trailer and go into extened.  “There are only three sports: bullfighting, motor racing, and mountaineering; all the rest are merely gamesâ€
Ernest Hemmingway
D4 3.0 Active Diff, Adaptive Lights, High Beam Assist, Surround Cameras, Privacy Glass.
D3 2.7:Adaptive Headlights,Electronic Rear Diff,ARB Bar,Blaupunkt Speakers,JVC Powered Subwoofer,Removable Snorkel,Mitch Hitch,Pioneer After Market Head Unit,Steering Wheel Control Adaptor,Remote Adjustable Supension Rod System, Taxside Dual Battery System.
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| 4th Aug 2010 1:29 pm |
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